29
April
2015
Caroline Keen read a poem she wrote for Workers Memorial Day, to remember the workers lost at work and highlight the greed of the current employers chasing profit over people.
A minutes silence was observed for the unfortunate workers who have lost their lives and a wreath laid in remembrance.
SONNET FOR WORKERS’ MEMORIAL DAY.
We’re devious, in charge and filthy rich
from servants making graveyards of their health,
marks desperate for work and where we pitch
a pittance, trashing rights and stealing wealth.
When health and safety rules can be ignored,
like Hillsborough, we cover up with lies,
we cut red tape, use companies abroad
and then it’s not our fault if someone dies.
A population bitten by abuse
is cannon fodder in financial war,
re-branding theft we con folk out of use,
thus bringing forward funerals for the poor.
You’re slaving, starving, jobless, on the brink…
We’re asking for it really – don’t you think?
Shakespearean Sonnet by: Caroline Keen a.k.a. Minnie StaceySpring (April) 2015
A bit about the poem/poet
Here are the words to the poem, written in the form of a Shakespearean sonnet. It's a serious subject, but I wanted the poem to be straightforward, easily accessible and with an uplifting edge. So I went for a satirical delivery from the perspective of one of the many privileged members of the egregious 'idiocracy', for whom the game of the pursuit of profit at any cost must surely be up with the evidence all around for everyone to see - hence the pompous broadcast and the last line where the perspective has shifted until it might be the workers' words being spoken...
The word 'marks' is in the unfortunate context of workers being the targets of neo-liberal/feudalist swindlers.
I wrote it the night before, as there had been a suggestion in the office from Graham McDermott that someone could write and read out a poem for our Workers' Memorial Day ceremony - I dug out an old poem and re-worked it for our remembrance.
The fight for safety and true equality goes on, and we need to trash the mainstream media's bought and paid for propaganda machine!
The word 'marks' is in the unfortunate context of workers being the targets of neo-liberal/feudalist swindlers.
I wrote it the night before, as there had been a suggestion in the office from Graham McDermott that someone could write and read out a poem for our Workers' Memorial Day ceremony - I dug out an old poem and re-worked it for our remembrance.
The fight for safety and true equality goes on, and we need to trash the mainstream media's bought and paid for propaganda machine!
